Chris Penso

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Chris Penso
Penso in 2025
Born (1982-04-28) April 28, 1982
Dover, Ohio, U.S.
Domestic
Years League Role
2011– Major League Soccer Referee
International
Years League Role
2013–2015 FIFA listed Referee
2021– FIFA listed VAR

Chris Penso (born April 28, 1982) is an American soccer referee who is active in Major League Soccer.[1]

Career

Penso was raised in Dover, Ohio, and unsuccessfully ran for mayor of the city while studying accounting at Kent State University. He began refereeing in 1997, and also worked at the Transportation Security Administration and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. He quit the state patrol in 2006 to become a full-time referee, and officiated his first Major League Soccer match in 2011.[2]

Penso became FIFA listed in 2013 and his first international assignment was on January 30, 2013, when he refereed a match between Mexico and Denmark. He served as a FIFA referee until 2015. In 2021, Penso was added to the FIFA list as a VAR.[1]

Penso was the VAR for the MLS Cup in 2018 and 2021. He also was the referee for the 2016 MLS All Star Game.[3]

In 2021, Penso was selected as a VAR for the Tokyo Olympics.[4] He was the VAR for both the men's and women's gold medal matches.[5]

Penso was assigned as the AVAR for the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup Final between Toluca FC and Tigres UANL.[6]

Internationals

Date Location Teams Scoreline Competition Yellow card Yellow card Red card Red card
January 30, 2013PhoenixMexico Mexico – Denmark League XI Denmark1 – 1Friendly300
May 28, 2013EdmontonCanada Canada – Costa Rica Costa Rica0 – 1Friendly202
October 31, 2013San DiegoMexico Mexico – Finland Finland4 – 2Friendly100
June 3, 2014TampaCosta Rica Costa Rica – Japan Japan1 – 3Friendly300
September 9, 2014Commerce CityBolivia Bolivia – Mexico Mexico0 – 1Friendly201
November 19, 2014Panama CityPanama Panama – Canada Canada0 – 0Friendly310
May 31, 2015Washington D.C.Honduras Honduras – El Salvador El Salvador2 – 0Friendly401
September 8, 2015HarrisonColombia Colombia – Peru Peru1 – 1Friendly500
October 14, 2015Washington D.C.Canada Canada – Ghana Ghana1 – 1Friendly300

Personal life

Penso's wife, Tori, is also a professional referee. In 2020, she became the first woman to referee a Major League Soccer match in 20 years. She also refereed the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final. They have three daughters.[7]

References

  1. "Profile: Chris Penso". Professional Referee Organization. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  2. Reed, Tom (May 26, 2013). "Politics aside, Chris Penso follows his dream to officiate and will work U.S. National team friendly in Cleveland". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  3. "MLS All-Star Roll of Honor". Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  4. "Five U.S. Soccer Referees Selected to Officiate at Olympic Football Tournaments Tokyo 2020". ussoccer.com. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  5. "Chris Penso". Sports Officials Care. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  6. Arellano, Bryan; Brennan, Joe (2026-05-30). "Who is Ismail Elfath, the referee for the CONCACAF Champions Cup final between Toluca and Tigres?". AS USA. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
  7. Hills, Drake (September 25, 2020). "How Tori Penso became the first woman in 20 years to referee an MLS game". The Tennessean. Retrieved September 27, 2020.